Mourinho is building one team. Even the analysts share the same table

José Mourinho is not limiting his work at Real Madrid to training sessions, tactical meetings and the team’s organisation on the pitch. The Portuguese coach wants the group to remain united once training is over. That is why the table at Valdebebas is shared not only by players and coaches, but also by the club’s video analysts.

The new routine was revealed by Cadena SER journalist Javier Herráez. Mourinho wants to reduce the distance between the different people working around the first team. Everyone should feel involved in the same project, whether they are later seen on the pitch, in the technical area or behind a computer screen.

NO SEPARATE TABLES AT VALDEBEBAS

The shared meals are not reserved for the players and Mourinho’s closest assistants. Analysts responsible for studying Real Madrid and preparing reports on upcoming opponents are also included.

That detail caught Herráez’s attention. Different sections of the staff may previously have worked alongside each other without necessarily spending time together after training. Mourinho has decided to bring them all to the same table.

It is not a change supporters will immediately notice during a match, but it can improve communication inside the training complex. An analyst no longer remains an anonymous person producing clips and presentations. Players know who they are working with, can ask questions and better understand the information presented during tactical meetings.

A SHARED MEAL BECOMES PART OF THE WORK

Since returning to Madrid, Mourinho has repeatedly stressed collective responsibility. That message is not aimed only at the players. He wants coaches, analysts and the other professionals working with the first team to know each other and communicate naturally every day.

Having lunch together will not replace training or solve every dressing-room problem. It can, however, remove some of the barriers that easily appear inside an organisation as large as Real Madrid.

The club employs specialists responsible for physical preparation, opposition analysis, set pieces, goalkeepers and numerous other areas. Mourinho does not want those people operating as separate departments with little contact beyond formal meetings.

Everyone is working for the same team and should feel part of it. The coach is therefore starting with a simple principle: if they all prepare Real Madrid for the next match, they can also sit together once the session is over.

MOURINHO STARTS WITH RELATIONSHIPS

Mourinho’s first spell in Madrid was remembered for its intensity, pressure and direct management style. The demands have not disappeared during his second spell, but the Portuguese coach is also placing considerable importance on the atmosphere surrounding the squad.

His approach at Valdebebas shows that he does not want several disconnected groups consisting of players, coaches, analysts and support staff. He wants one team, even if some of its members will never appear in front of the cameras.

Only results will determine how important these measures ultimately become. The intention is already clear. Mourinho wants the players to know the people preparing their tactical material, while those working away from the pitch should not feel like an invisible addition to the first team.

Real Madrid’s analysts now have a place at the same table as everyone else. For Mourinho, it is more than a polite gesture. It is another part of building the group.